Saburi doubts he tested positive for coronavirus, wants evidence
Monica Kagia
Kilifi deputy Governor Gideon Saburi has asked the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to provide him with a copy of Covid-19 test results from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) that showed he was positive for the virus.
Through lawyer George Kithi, Saburi insists he was never tested.
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He has also asked he be supplied with documents to prove he consented for samples to be taken from him willingly and the dates when the said samples were taken.
“My client never gave any samples either of his blood, saliva swabs or any other samples used to show he was suffering from Covid-19. We are requesting we be supplied with documents showing the samples taken and by who,” Kithi told Resident Magistrate Christine Ogweno.
He further asked they be supplied with a certified copy of the said results, saying his client has never received the disputed results.
In addition, the lawyer asked the prosecution to supply them with the formula used by Kemri to show Saburi tested positive for Covid-19.
He has also asked the prosecution to provide them with details of equipment used to test Saburi.
Earlier Kithi told the court all results from Coast Provincial General Hospital where Saburi had been quarantined were all negative and that he had not given samples to any other medical facility.
Saburi was charged with the offence of willingfully exposing himself in the public while suffering from the infectious disease without taking proper precautions contrary to the Public Health Act.
He was released on a cash bail of Sh 200,000 or bond of Sh500,000 and a surety of similar amount. The court ordered him to deposit travel documents, not to contact witnesses in the case and to self quarantines for 14 days.
The prosecution through state counsel Alloys Kemo confirmed they could supply the requested documents by July 4 when the matter will come up for pre-trial.
